The North Carolina Courage cut ties with head coach Sean Nahas on Wednesday, abruptly announcing the manager's firing ahead of the NWSL team's Friday night match against the Houston Dash.
The brief club announcement noted that the termination was "effective immediately."
"The North Carolina Courage remain focused on the continued development of the team and maintaining a professional, competitive environment for players, staff, and supporters," the team said in a statement.
Nahas has helmed the Courage since October 2021, first taking over as interim head coach following the firing of embattled ex-manager Paul Riley. The club elevated the now-47-year-old to permanent manager prior to the 2022 season.
Across his nearly four years in Cary, Nahas amassed an overall 36-35-19 record while leading the Courage to two NWSL Challenge Cup trophies and a pair of playoff berths.
A Thursday morning press conference with NC Courage sporting director Ceri Bowley and director of communications Jake Levy did not reveal any specificities surrounding Nahas's dismissal, with Bowley simply saying the decision was based on a "multitude of factors."
"The standards of this club are extremely high, and it was felt that there [were] reasons that we needed to make a change in order to uphold the standards that we expect of the North Carolina Courage," he added.
The Courage currently sit just outside the postseason cutoff line at No. 9 on the 2025 NWSL table.
Assistant coach Nathan Thackeray will lead the team as they travel to Houston to face the No. 12 Dash on Friday.
Denver Summit FC has a coach, tapping former Manchester City manager Nick Cushing to serve as the NWSL expansion club’s inaugural leader this week.
The hiring subsequently rounds out the team's front office build, with Denver coach Cushing joining president Jen Millet and GM Curt Johnson ahead of the team’s 2026 kick-off.
Denver is also stocking its player roster. The team signed Orland Pride star Ally Watt earlier this week, with Watt also expected to join the Summit in 2026.
"Denver Summit FC’s commitment to building a world-class soccer organization really inspired me," said Cushing in a team statement. "We have a passionate, committed fanbase and we have to put a team on the field that replicates that."
"Our team will play an attacking form of the game that excites our stadium and makes things difficult for our opponents," he continued. "We want to create a winning team as well as a great experience for all of Colorado."
Cushing most recently acted as Man City’s interim manager after the WSL side fired coach Gareth Taylor in March, returning to helm the team he coached to six major trophies from 2013-2020.
"In order to be successful right away, you need people that have experienced environments like this, have built organizations, and have had success," said Curt Johnson, Denver Summit FC general manager.
"Nick brings world-class experience, a passion for player development, and a tactical vision that will excite Summit supporters. He’s won major trophies and is the right leader to guide us into our first season and beyond."
Denver Summit FC scored its first-ever player this week, with ESPN reporting Monday that the 2026 expansion side has landed 2024 NWSL champion and Colorado product Ally Watt from the Orlando Pride.
The 28-year-old forward has logged one goal and one assist in her 13 matches so far this season, and posted three goals and four assists in Orlando's record-breaking 2024 campaign.
"One thing that makes us really unique is this talent pool of Colorado players," Denver Summit GM Curt Johnson told ESPN about the club's aim to welcome homegrown athletes. "Colorado has been fertile ground for this sport for a long time. We're going to dig into that, and we're going to hire people that have made their names as a result of their upbringing in soccer in Colorado."
In return for Watt, Orlando will receive $75,000 in expansion allocation money and $37,500 in transfer funds.
While the trade is a done deal, the Denver Summit immediately loaned Watt back to the Pride for the rest of the 2025 season, with Orlando also gaining additional salary cap relief with the temporary loan.
Such intra-league loans are new to the NWSL, introduced in part to help incoming teams Denver and fellow 2026 addition Boston Legacy FC build out their rosters without an expansion draft.
Both franchises have a cache of over $1 million in allocation money available to add players beyond the league's salary cap and transfer thresholds.
With that in mind, the Boston Legacy has opted to stock up on both international signings as well as up-and-coming US talent in recent weeks.
The 2025 NWSL regular season returned this past weekend after a month-long international break, and the San Diego Wave are already ahead of schedule.
Because after a tumultuous end to 2024 followed by offseason roster and front office shakeups, the club has so far exceeded the soccer world's — and possibly even their own — expectations.
San Diego entered the second half of the year in third place in the NWSL standings, having lost only one of their last nine games before play suspended in late June. Along the way, the club produced a legitimate 2025 MVP candidate in forward Delphine Cascarino while also leaning hard into the league's youth movement, becoming the first NWSL club to start three 17-year-olds in the same match.
But as the second season starts to rev up, there are still lingering questions about the team's ability to create consistency on the pitch — not to mention the club's big picture plans.
The Wave know they don't have everything figured out just yet. But it's safe to say the light at the end of the tunnel showed up far sooner on the field than expected for a young team riding out a game-changing season.
Veteran Kailen Sheridan sees San Diego start anew
At the end of 2024, all San Diego Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan wanted was a break from soccer.
A member of the Wave since their inaugural 2022 season, Sheridan saw her team abruptly plummet down the NWSL table after winning the shield in 2023, failing to make the playoffs for the first time in club history.
And the trouble wasn't contained to the field. Amid the skid, the Wave parted ways with head coach Casey Stoney, dealt with allegations of front office toxicity† linked to club president Jill Ellis, and saw USWNT legend and founding Wave star Alex Morgan's surprise retirement.
"I remember at the end of last season being kind of bombarded with everything, and not sure how we were moving forward," Sheridan told Just Women's Sports. "I want to be the best version of myself on the field and off the field. The people who were left felt that as well, and we needed some time away."
After a disappointing finish, San Diego saw further roster shifts dominate the offseason headlines. USWNT defender Naomi Girma transferred to WSL side Chelsea for a then-record transfer fee, while star-in-the-making Jaedyn Shaw requested a trade to the North Carolina Courage. Change appeared to be chasing the Wave whether the club's remaining players were ready or not.
"Honestly, it was a really rough couple of weeks," Sheridan continued. "But once we got out, we could turn our focus onto what this year could look like, how we could have a really strong year but also focus on our growth."
The growing pains hurt. But as more changes brought a shift in leadership and perspective, a blank slate also began to emerge. The team entered 2025 under new ownership. Ellis left for a role at FIFA while former Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall took over as head coach, setting a fresh tone across the franchise.
"For me, it was coming in with less expectation," said Sheridan. "More just being ready to work and put in the effort to create a new culture."
Young Wave star Trinity Armstrong takes a leap of faith
After winning a national championship in her first season with UNC, then-17-year-old Trinity Armstrong was looking for a challenge.
She decided to turn professional in 2025. She then entered the NWSL under the U18 mechanism — a legal process that allows underage players to pick their pro teams. The wide-open nature of San Diego's rebuild spoke to her.
"It felt like the best environment for me. To not only try and earn a spot, but then be a consistent starter," she told JWS. After Girma's transfer, the team needed a new cornerstone center-back. Armstrong felt emboldened by conversations with Eidevall about the team’s developing defensive identity.
Armstrong was keenly aware of the legacy left by departed Wave superstars like Alex Morgan and Abby Dahlkemper. She liked the idea of adding to that history while also making her own mark as her star grew.
"It felt like they had their own successes in the past. But from what I was hearing coming in, it was basically a brand new team," she continued. "I was very excited to be a part of that young group to rebrand ourselves and push forward."
In January, Armstrong signed a three-year deal with the Wave. And she already has 11 starts under her belt this season. She's particularly effective in possession, completing nearly 90% of her passes with the ability to cut through lines to spring play forward.
Teen Wave stars write a new chapter
Armstrong became a key component to the Wave's rebuild. She joined fellow teen talents Melanie Barcenas and Kimmy Ascanio playing Eidevall's preferred style of purposeful possession. In Eidevall's game plan, San Diego holds the lion's share of the ball, executing plays at a tempo that sets defenses on their heels.
The Wave relied on established internationals like Sheridan and Cascarino to propel them forward with consistency. But transitioning to quickly developing the team's youngsters also sets the club up for years to come.
"We were unsure of how they would gel at such a young age. And honestly, they've blown all of us away," Sheridan said of her new teammates. "We've been really impressed with their mentality — and their desire."
The respect is mutual. Armstrong credits Sheridan with helping her adjust while adopting the same emphasis on growth that's become the team's calling card.
"Kailen, coming in, she's been such a great mentor to me," Armstrong said. "She's been super encouraging. I can only speak good things about her."
San Diego finds its footing on the pitch
It's easy enough for confidence-building and good vibes to carry a team through preseason training. But once the regular-season whistle blew, both veterans and newcomers were happily surprised at how quickly they were able to produce.
"It was just so beautiful to see us connecting, seeing our midfield and our forward line have these great combinations and getting really good goals off of them," said Armstrong. "This could really be something that pushes us all the way to the championship."
"I honestly wasn't 100% confident in how successful we would be putting it all together right away," Sheridan recalled. "It's great to see that we've been able to get through those first couple hurdles of gelling and creating chemistry. We'll still hit a bunch of bumps going forward, but ultimately, I was confident in the individual talent."
Much of the credit goes to the homegrown focus Eidevall imparted on his new squad within his first few weeks.
"The drive was, how do I make each player better?" Sheridan said of her coach's approach. "That was humongous for us."
Eidevall made headlines during his time at Arsenal, where he won two FA Cups but could never seriously endanger Chelsea FC's dominant run. When the 42-year-old crossed over to the NWSL after mutually parting ways with the WSL last October, he arrived with a bottom-up perspective.
His players have responded in kind.
"The mindset to want to grow, to want to develop, that's been great from the players and from the staff," he recently told reporters. "The commitment to the team and to the group, that's such an important aspect. And you can see that these players create something special between them."
Anchors of the central defense, Sheridan and Armstrong both enjoy playing technical football. They like the ball at their feet, connecting out of the back to set up the dynamic midfield, and setting their frontline free.
With half a season to go, San Diego has already scored more goals than they did in the entire 2024 season. It resulted in the third-best goal differential in the NWSL standings.
"It's a very tight team," added Eidevall. "We see that when players are coming on from the bench. We see how the bench and the starting XI interact. And that's very important because at the end of the day, this is team sport."
Marching into the NWSL season's back half
July's break allowed players across the league the opportunity to reset. Armstrong spent her days caring for her rescue pit bull mix Mochi — adopted a few months ago from the local Humane Society — going on hikes and taking trips to the beach. She also celebrated her 18th birthday, graduating from the separate U18 locker room shared with Barcenas and Ascanio to join the rest of the team.
But while the Wave's turnaround looks to be in full swing, the real tests might still lie ahead. No longer a surprise, their opponents can now review tape on the team's first-half successes. They're able to better counter San Diego's new form.
On Saturday, the Wave restarted their 2025 campaign with another positive result, though one tempered with missed opportunities. Despite both out-possessing and generating more attack than the North Carolina Courage, San Diego settled for a scoreless draw. The outcome pointed to a strong performance from the defense, while also showcasing yet another opportunity for growth.
Sheridan doesn't appear to be too rattled. Returning refreshed, she's confident in her team's ability to recapture the continuity they so fluidly created at the beginning of the season. Just so long as they stick together.
"We've started with a mindset of 'Okay, we're back at zero,'" Sheridan said. "How do we want this to look, and how do we want to go forward from here?"
†An October 2024 lawsuit filed by five former club employees alleging the Wave of workplace misconduct remains active and unresolved.
Just Women’s Sports (JWS), the leading multimedia platform dedicated exclusively to women's sports, today announced the continuation of its partnership with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) for the fourth consecutive year as an official digital media partner.
Just Women’s Sports has secured the rights to distribute official NWSL game highlights for the ongoing season as the league returns from its summer break and the playoff push begins.
From its launch, JWS has been a go-to platform for NWSL fans. Last year, the platform drove 172 million social impressions across its NWSL content, while also hosting a live show at the NWSL Championship as well as the official NWSL Championship Weekend party.
Just Women’s Sports’ studio show Sports Are Fun! is hosted by NWSL alum and two-time NWSL champion Kelley O’Hara, with guests including Gotham FC star Midge Purce and recent NWSL vets Merritt Mathias and Darien Jenkins.
"Throughout the NWSL’s partnership with Just Women’s Sports, our joint efforts in amplifying and elevating female athletes while inspiring fans have been a major driver in the growth of women’s sports," said NWSL director of media partnerships Servi Barrientos. "The sky is the limit as we continue to build on this momentum to reach fans in new ways and elevate our league."
"Covering the NWSL is core to our mission at Just Women’s Sports," said JWS founder and CEO Haley Rosen.
"The league’s growth has been incredible, and there’s still so much more to go. Being able to share these highlights with our next-gen audience is key to serving our fans and growing this league."
Young USWNT standout Ally Sentnor is on the move in the NWSL, exiting the last-place Utah Royals in a midseason trade to the league-leading Kansas City Current on Friday.
According to ESPN, Utah received a record-$600,000 transfer fee in return, as well as a future sell-on fee and performance add-ons in lieu of players.
"Thank you to the Royals for drafting this small town girl, and giving me the opportunity to start a lifelong dream of playing professional soccer," Sentnor said in a statement.
The 2024 NWSL No. 1 draft pick scored three goals in her rookie season, and has one goal and one assist in her 13 matches starting for Utah in 2025.
Friday's deal now sends the 21-year-old Sentnor to the very top of the NWSL table, as the 2024 Young US Player of the Year gears up for a cultural reset — and a reunion with best friend Claire Hutton — as part of the NWSL-leading attack in Kansas City.
"Ally is a dynamic player who's tenacious on both sides of the ball and will be yet another threat on our roster," Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski said in the club's announcement. "She's a fun and exciting player to watch. Ally has continued to elevate her game year after year, and we're eager for her to make her mark in Kansas City."
NWSL star Trinity Rodman made a fairytale return from injury on Sunday, scoring the game-winning goal off the bench to lift the Washington Spirit over the Portland Thorns 2-1.
Suiting up for the first time since seeking treatment for a lingering back issue in April, Rodman entered the match in the 76th minute before breaking through the 1-1 deadlock in second-half stoppage time off a volley from midfielder Croix Bethune.
"That was just the hardest thing I've had to go through with injury and everything," an emotional Rodman told reporters following the NWSL match. "I'm just really happy to be back. I missed the team, I missed doing what I love."
The result has the Thorns now at No. 6 in the NWSL standings while launching the Spirit into third place, leapfrogging now-No. 4 San Diego after the Wave picked up just one point in Saturday's 0-0 draw with the No. 9 North Carolina Courage.
At the top of the table, No. 1 Kansas City widened their lead, claiming a 10-point advantage over the No. 2 Orlando Pride following the Current's 2-0 Friday victory over No. 7 Racing Louisville.
The No. 5 Seattle Reign proved to be the weekend's other big winner, earning one of the league's three wins by topping No. 11 Angel City 2-0 on Friday.
All in all, the NWSL's regular-season summer break gave teams time to regroup — but time is ticking as the 2025 play inches closer to the postseason finish line.
2025 NWSL standings: Week 14
1. Kansas City Current (12-2-0)
2. Orlando Pride (8-4-2)
3. Washington Spirit (8-4-2)
4. San Diego Wave FC (7-3-4)
5. Seattle Reign FC (7-4-3)
6. Portland Thorns FC (6-4-4)
7. Racing Louisville FC (6-6-2)
8. Gotham FC (5-5-4)
9. North Carolina Courage (5-5-4)
10. Bay FC (4-6-4)
11. Angel City FC (4-7-3)
12. Houston Dash (3-8-3)
13. Chicago Stars FC (1-9-4)
14. Utah Royals (1-10-3)
Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman is gearing up to debut her Adidas Player Edition cleats this weekend, marking her return to the field by rocking the all-new F50 SPARKFUSION PE — a boot built by and for women athletes.
"Growing up as a kid in California, I could never have imagined a day where there would be a cleat literally inspired by me," the 2024 Olympic gold medalist said in a press release. "I can't wait to wear them."
According to Adidas's Thursday release, designers worked to specifically engineer the boots to "excel with the speed and agility demands of the modern women's game."
To do so, the sportswear company researched the unique anatomy of the female foot to address the discomfort reported by women athletes when competing in unisex cleats.
Consequently, the F50 SPARKFUSION PE boasts key design adjustments to improve fit, arch support, stability, and comfort for women athletes. The boots also contain features to boost players' agility across multiple pitch surfaces.
In addition to the performance improvements, Rodman's Player Edition boots come in the 23-year-old USWNT star's favorite colors.
Grounded by a pearlescent white base alongside vibrant light blue details and bold pink stripes — an homage to Rodman's signature pink hair — the attacker's cleats aim to create "a dynamic look that captures Trinity's energy and personality."
Rodman will sport her Adidas Player Edition boots for the first time on Sunday, when her Washington Spirit host the Portland Thorns at 12:30 PM ET on ABC.
How to buy the Trinity Rodman F50 SPARKFUSION PE cleats
The Trinity Rodman Adidas F50 SPARKFUSION PE cleats are currently available for purchase online at adidas.com.
The NWSL is back in session beginning on Friday night, as 2025 season play returns with athletes shifting their focus from summer international tournaments back to the league's home stretch.
While WAFCON and Women's Euro participants are likely to be available this weekend, NWSL stars featuring in Saturday's Copa América final remain out of market.
The NWSL standings dominate this weekend's narrative, as No. 1 Kansas City towers over the league while lower-table teams embrace their shot at a reset after a month off the pitch:
- No. 7 Racing Louisville vs. No. 1 Kansas City Current, Friday at 8 PM ET (Prime): Though Racing currently sits in playoff position, they'll face a tough test when the high-flying Current storm through Louisville.
- No. 6 Seattle Reign vs. No. 11 Angel City, Friday at 10:30 PM ET (Paramount+): Reign fans will snag their first glimpse of new signee Mia Fishel on Friday, though Angel City will aim to ruin the welcome party as the LA club pushes toward playoff contention.
- No. 9 North Carolina Courage vs. No. 3 San Diego Wave, Saturday at 7:30 PM ET (ION): Courage forward Jaedyn Shaw takes on her former team as the Wave looks to keep the NWSL's surprise success story of the season going strong.
- No. 4 Washington Spirit vs. No. 5 Portland Thorns, Sunday at 12:30 PM ET (ABC): While Spirit fans cross their fingers for the return of injured stars Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune, the Thorns will try to keep their steady momentum afloat in DC.
As the NWSL preps for this weekend's return from an extended summer break, No. 4 Washington Spirit star forward Trinity Rodman is also hoping to re-take the pitch for the first time since April.
Rodman is currently back training with the team, rejoining her club after undergoing extended treatment overseas for chronic back issues.
"I'd never really dealt with something like that," Rodman admitted after an open practice earlier this week. "So, for me, mentally, it was very difficult."
"[I was] trying to function through pain, and kind of gaslight myself to thinking it was fine every day, when it wasn't," she said. "I can now kind of openly say, I was in pain all the time."
Rodman also admits that stepping away was, though difficult, the right call to make for her healing.
"Obviously, it sucks being away from the team and being away from soccer in general," she added. "But I got to work on things that I wouldn't have gotten to work on if I was in the team environment all the time, so I think that was a positive."
Rodman's availability fluctuated after she earned an Olympic gold medal with the USWNT in Paris last summer, with the soccer superstar featuring in just four Spirit games this season — and none since stepping away in April.
Now functioning pain-free, Rodman's next on-pitch challenge is balancing her competitive intensity with her newly found health.
"It's really understanding my body and acknowledging [when] it's in pain," she explained. "And not pushing through things that I shouldn't."
Rodman eyes new contract amid NWSL return
On top of navigating her return to play, Rodman is also actively negotiating with the Washington Spirit for a contract renewal.
Her current deal expires at the end of 2025, and with interest in the US standout reportedly mounting from overseas clubs, the 23-year-old could eventually field multiple offers.
Considering her lack of minutes so far this season, the star called the assumed interest "a weird situation."
"I'm trying not to stress about it or put too much pressure on it," she said of the ongoing talks. "At the end of the day, I'm worried about health first.... Everything else can come next."